Bicycle-seat.



N0. 633,322, Patented Sept. I9, |899.

J. R. KNAPP. BICYCLE SEAT.

'Application led May 31 1899 t :No Modem UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEREMIAII R. KNAPP, OF NOR\VALK, OHIO.

BICYC LE-S EAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 633,322, dated Septenl'ber 19, 1899. Application filed May 31, 1899. Serial No. 718,808. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t wtcty concern:

Be it known that I, J EREMIAH R. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented cer-tain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Seats; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in bicycle-seats; and its object is to constructa seat entirely of sheet metal for the purpose of rendering the seat more elastic, lighter, cheaper in construction, and more pleasant to ride upon than the usual heavy rigid seats which have little or no movement after they are clamped in position.

My invention consists in a seatspring which is bent into U shape and to the upper end of which the seat-plate is secured, combined with two other Hat springs which are applied to the outer and main one, one of which springs is given a certain amount of play at its front end, while the other can be clamped rigidly to the under side of 'the seatplate, and a chain, wire, or cord which limits the upward play of the seat, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, which rep resent my invention, Figure lis a perspective of a seat which embodies my invention complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the center of the seat. Figs. 3 and et are enlarged detail views of the bolt which serves as a guide to the movement of one of the springs.

A represents 'the seat-plate, which may either be of the shape here shown or any other that may be preferred and upon the top of which a padding or acushion or a seat of any suitable construction may be secured in any suitable manner. This plate A is made ol sheet meta-l and has its front end turned backward upon itself, as shown at B, for the purpose of forming a guide to one of the two shorter springs used. To the under side of the plate A at any suitable point is bolted the upper end of the main spring C, which is for this purpose.

bent into a substantial U -shape form, curved as shown, and which supports a substantial part of the riders weight, As here shown, the seat-plate A is secured to the spring by means of screws and nuts D, but any suitable form of fastening preferred may be used The lower portion of the spring is provided with a slot F of considerable length, so that the spring can be fasten ed tothe wheel and can be adjusted back andV forth, so as to give any desired inclination to the seat. Secured to this spring C by means of the clamping screws or bolts G are the two flat springs H I, which extend forward and assist the spring C in supporting the riders weight. The spring H is the longer one of the two and is curved upwardly and has its front end to catch in the tu rned-back portion Bof the seat-plate A, as shown in Fig. 2, and which turnedback portion forms a guide and a keeper for the front end of the spring H. Through lthe front end of the seat-plate A is formed a hole, and through the front end of the spring l-I is formed aslot K, through which the bolt J is passed, and this bolt J serves to clamp thefront end of the spring H rigidly to the under side of the plate, the slot allowing a suitable adjustment between the seatplate and the spring for a suitable adjustment of parts. This spring H follows closely the curvature of the upper end of the spring C and forms a sup'port for the extreme front point of the plate A, so as to prevent it from sagging or dropping downward, as it otherwise would under the weight of the rider. The spring I is also made of sheet metal and is but slightly curved and has a slot L made through its front end where it is fastened to the lower end of the spring C, and which slot L is of sui'iicient length to allow the front end of the spring I to play freely back and forth. Through the lower end of the spring O is passed the square clamping-bolt N, and upon the upper end of this bolt is formed a threaded end to receive the nutO, which can be screwed down only to the shoulder upon the bolt. By limiting the movement of the nut O it will be impossible to tighten it so that it will interfere with the free movement of the front end of the spring I, which must always be left to play freely back and forth, so as to give the seat an easy rising-and-fallin g move- IOC ment. Between the front end of the spring C and the front end of the spring I are placed a roller P and a washer U, and upon which roller and washer the front end of the spring I rests, and which roller in turning freely in its recess formed in the front of the spring C prevents any unnecessary friction or wear between the frontends of the two springs I and C, and thus makes the movement much more even and regular than it would otherwise be if the roller were not used.

In order to limit the upward movement of 111e seat, the chain, cord, or wire Q is used, the upper end of which is fastened to a bolt R, which is secured rigidly to the upper end of the spring Gand which passes through the slot S inthe spring H, as shown. The lower end of the chain is fastened to a plate T,which is loosely placed upon the screw-threaded portion of the bolt N, Vhile the seat is free to be depressed, so that the lower end of the springC will strike against the under side of the spring H should the pressure or concussion be sufiiciently great, yet the upward movement of the seat must be limited to prevent it from having sufficient throw to unseat or unpleasantly affect the rider where rough ground or obstructions are being passed over, as would otherwise be the case if no limiting means to the upward movement were employed.

As will be seen, the seat-plate and the three springs are rolled from sheet metal and can therefore be very cheaply made.

The seat is light, strong, durable, and elastic and is exceedingly pleasant to ride upon, owing to its elasticity.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a seat, the fiat curved spring C, bent in the direction in which the bicycle moves, and the seat-plate secured to its upper end, combined with the fiat curved spring I-I which is attached to the upper portion of the spring C, and which has its front end to extend beyond the front end of the spring C so as to support the front end of the seat-plate, and the flat upwardly-curved spring I which is attached to the lower vend of the spring H, and to the spring C at its rear end, and at its front end to the lower end of the spring C, substantially as shown.

2. In a seat, the seat-plate having its front end turned backwardly to form a guide and holder, the double spring C rigidly secured to the under side of the seat-plate, and provided with means for attachment to the seatpost, combined with the spring I-I secured at its rear end to the spring C, and which has its front end to project forward to form a support for the front end of the seat-plate, the spring I also secured at its rear end to the spring C, and having its forward end supported by the front end of the spring C, upon which it has a limited play, and means for limiting the upward play of the seat, substanlially as described.

3. In a seat,the seatplate,the curved spring C at the upper end of which the seat-plate is rigidly secured, and the two springs H, I, secured at their rear ends to the spring C, combined with the bolt M, the roller P, and the chain Q for limiting the upward movement of the seat, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEREMIAII R.. KNAPP.

. Witnesses:

E. l). BARNES, STEPHEN M. YOUNG. 

